Guilty Party is a mystery game in the vein of
Clue, but with mini-games. Playing as members of a crime solving family, the Dickens, up to four players can work together (or against each other) while solving various mysteries. Their progress is always impeded by Mr. Valentine.
Whether playing co-op or competitive, Guilty Party plays out in similar fashion. Players navigate environments, looking for clues or grilling suspects. More times than not, collecting clues or other information involves some sort of mini-game. Although Story Mode sticks to a set pattern of mini-games, Party Mode randomly tosses them out. There's a collection of around forty games, so even if you've already played through a mystery, it won't play out the same way the next time.
Each turn, players earn three coins. The goal is to collect as much information as you can before running out of coins, ending your turn. Moving between rooms costs one coin, while interrogating witnesses or searching for clues also costs one coin. Using a coin to collect evidence initiates a mini-game. Complete the mini-game and you'll walk away with a new clue.
Valentine wouldn't be a good villain if he weren't doing his very best to trip up your investigation. He'll pop up occasionally with a trap that will either give the suspect the chance to escape, or throw you off the trail. Sometimes, you'll need to complete a mini-game to escape traps, though you can also use special card abilities to trip up his traps.
Guilty Party is not without its flaws. Though fun, its best played with other people. Solo fun offers some enjoyment, but it simply doesn't compare to having someone either playing with you or going against you.
